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 ACHTUNG
BABY! COMPILATION
Achtung Baby! 1988-1998: Ten Years Of Madness (Behind The Iron Curtain)
2000
2CD
Ten Years of Madness is a compilation of gothic-industrial and
neofolk music from the respected Russian webzine Achtung Baby! The
site is based in Rostov-on-Don and was set up in 1988. One of the first
independent projects in the post-Soviet media, it promotes and reviews
underground and experimental music.
This is apparently a second version of the double-CD, the first having
been limited to 333 and given away to friends and collaborators. 27 bands
are included. The first volume tends to concentrate on the more industrial
artists including Inade, 4th Sign of the Apocalypse,
Sanctum, Reptillicus, and Turbund Sturmwerk. The
second volume concentrates on the more folky acts including Anima In
Fiamme, Der Blutharsch, Blood Axis, Ostara, Argine,
Novy Svet, Ataraxia, Hybryds, Dream Into Dust, Les
Joyaux De La Princesse and Ain Soph.
Standout tracks for me were Skrol's 'Fall a prey' (I, 3) which
is very nightmarish and apocalyptic, 4th Sign of the Apocalypse's
'A Talent for Evil' (I, 6) with mysterious wandering violin against an
industrial background, Anima In Fiamme's rendition of the Fairport
Convention number, 'Crazy Man Michael' (II, 1), which is 'gothicised'
as a funeral march, Blood Axis' 'The March Of Brian Boru' (II,
4) - a tune to which I have always had a strong attachment here given
a spoken word and grungey guitar introduction, Ostara's brilliant
'Operation Valkrie' (II, 5), Argine's 'Mosaico' (II, 6) - neo-classical
violin and flute music, the as ever quirky Novy Svet's 'Sola Esperanza'
(II, 7) and Ataraxia's 'Post Nuclear Obitus' (II, 9).
Some of this originally exclusive material may now be available elsewhere,
but this collection remains an excellent introduction to gothic-industrial
and neofolk artists. The double-album is accompanied by a smart A5 black
booklet with silver text and illustrations.
Rik - 15 October 2001
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